Blackleading matrices for electrotypes



(No Model.)

B. A. BLAKE.

BLAGKLEADING MATRICES FOR ELEGTROTYPBS. No. 362,927.

Patented May 1'7, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDlVARD A. BLAKE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BLACKLEADING MATRICES FOR ELECTROTYPES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 362,927, dated May 17, 1887.

Application filed January 18,1887. Serial No. 924,666. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. BLAKE, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Process of Blackleading Matrices for Electrotype-Plates; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thcreon,which form a part of this specification.

Heretofore the blaekleading of the matrices of electrotype-plates has been accomplishedin a machine in which the matrices were placed, then sprinkled with plumbago, and then beat and polished by afine camels-hair brush. This process generally requires from fifteen to thirty minutes, according to the size of the matrix, and then when the matrix is removed usually has to be touched up with a soft brush by hand, in order to blacklead and polish spots which the brush in the machine had failed to reach.

It is the object of my discovery to dispense entirely with a brush and the mechanism to operate it, and to considerably lessen the time for blackleading and avoid the necessity for the subsequent touching-up operation by the use of acurrent of air impregnated with plumbago, substantially as hereinafter fully described, and as illustrated in the drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a Vertical central section of a machine in which I use a current of air im pregnated with plu mbago direct from the blast. Figs. 2 and 8 show a plan and vertical trans verse section, respectively, of a machine in which is shown a mixing-chamber, in which the current of air after it leaves the blast becomes impregnated with plumbago, and from whence it is diffused over the matrix; and Fig. 4 shows modifications of the principles of construction shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Reference being had to Fig. 1, A represents a rectangular case having a slanting bottom, and having a bed, 6, therein. The top B of this case is conical or pyramidal in shape,and is connected with the exit 0 of a blast-fan,G,'as shown. At a suitable point in the peripheral edge of the fan-case d, and placed in such position that the pl u mbago fed therefrom will drop in the direction the vanes of the fan travel, is a hopper, D, in which the plumbago is placed as needed.

The operation of the machine shown in Fig. 1 is substantially as follows: The hopper being supplied with plumbago and the fan set in motion, the plumbago gravitates and is sucked into the fan-case by the exhaust, and, eomniingling with the air-current generated by the fan, is expelled therewith through exit 0 into the cone-shaped top of caseA full upon the bed I), on which is placed the matrix m. The force of the air-current has the effect of forcing the particles of plumbago into all the interstices and irregular surfaces of the matrix,and upon the plane surfaces thereof, and then out again, thus combining in one action both the beating and polishing effects of the brush used in the blackleading-machines now extensively in use, and, besides, does it in such manner that the matrix does not have to be touched up and cleaned after the operation is over to remove white spots, and to remove any plumba go which may have packed upon the matrix.

In Figs. 2 and 3, it will be observed, I dispense with the conical or pyramidal shaped top of case A, and instead divide it into two compartments,which may be styled the mixingchamber 6 and the blackleading-chamber" e. In this form of the machine the blast enters the mixing-chamber(which is placed above the blackleadingchamber) from one corner, where the hopper feeds the plumbago to the same, and after the air-currents are thoroughly impregnated with the plumbago they are ejected through the apertures in the floor of the mixing-chamber upon the matrix at, placed upon the bed I).

In Fig. 4 is shown another plan of a machine in which the inlet-pipe 0 travels horizontally around the case A, entirely bordering the mixing chamber, with which it communicates through perforations in its inner wall. The plumbago is fed to the air-current in substantially the same manner as shown in Fig. 3, is forced with said air-current into the mixing chamber, andfrom thence i nto the blackleadingchamber in the same manner as shown in said Fig. 3. The operation of my improved process does not require over two or three minutes to complete its work as compared with fifteen to IOO thirty minutes required by the 01d process; but even during this comparatively short time the pressure of the air might become so great as to impair the utility of the machine,were not some exit for it provided, and care at the same time taken to prevent the plumbago from escaping. This can be done conveniently by making the bottom of case A of some fabric the meshes of which are sufficieutly close to prevent the .plumbago working through; or it could be described I can use the blast directly or indi- 2o rectly, and can impregnate or commingle the plumbago with said blast before or after it leaves the fan or blast-generating devices. In the accomplishment of my process I desire not to be limited to the exact constructions de- 25 scribed. i

What I claim as new' is- The process of blackleading and polishing electrotypers matrices, consisting of blowing plumbago against the matrix, as hereinbefore 0 set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD A. BLAKE.

WVituesses:

FRANK D. THOMASON, E H. COTTRELL. 

